" 'Smile', he said, hearing the cashiers of the Wendy's calling for more fries and the dad changing his screaming kid's diaper in the next stall. Virginia wasn't a big state, but it still was 3 hours to the state line. He still took a second shot, a safety, just in case the first one didn't look good. "Why the fuck did I do that?" he wondered aloud.

@Ampersand Thank-you! I'm planning on getting the outline of the rest of the creature this fall, so will save up, and post pictures in the spring of more arms and its head. Also and in a good way, your hair makes me nostalgic for many things. More relevantly, your new hair color suits you very much.

Question: do you take Descartes out in public with you?

@imaginarypeople Do you go by Justin or imaginarypeople in online spaces? Welcome to the SPIT fest, too. ;-)

It's squinty and topless (scandalous!) me at Waldo Lake. It's the clearest lake I've ever been on. Apparently, it's one of the purest lakes in the world. When I stopped paddling my kayak and let the ripples fade, I could see about 100 feet down into the surprisingly blue water. It felt like I was flying for a few moments.

@phill_seaYou're welcome! Tattoos that use the person's body are wicked - seems you don't see too many of them around these days (My current ones don't)."many things"? Maybe I shouldn't ask... But thanks for the compliment - I am really happy with the way it turned out.

Answer: He comes out with me from time to time, but he's pretty nervous for a Ball Python, so I have to take it slow. Y'know, you can get some pretty weird looks and MANY judgmental glares walking around suburbia wearing a snake...

@imaginarypeopleWelcome to SPIT! So you are a small canine with a pet human, right?